New EV tech breakthrough could solve range anxiety without needing a bigger battery

This new EV tech aims to reduce range anxiety and improve battery range without making battery packs bigger or heavier.

The company has developed a system that uses a small gasoline engine to power a generator, which then supplies electricity to the battery or motor.

This approach keeps the driving experience fully electric, even though a combustion engine is involved.

With production scheduled for 2026, the system offers a different solution for carmakers trying to improve electric vehicle practicality without major redesigns.

VISIT SBX CARS – View live supercar auctions powered by Supercar Blondie

How ZF’s EV tech works

ZF’s system is called the eRE platform and comes in two versions.

The standard version powers the rear wheels with between 94 and 148 horsepower.

A more advanced version, the eRE+, supports front-wheel assist and boosts output to 201 horsepower.

Both are designed to fit into vehicles that already use electric drivetrains, meaning automakers won’t need to develop entirely new platforms.

This EV tech avoids the need to increase battery size to gain extra range.

Instead, it uses a small engine that never touches the wheels, but instead charges the battery or powers the motor.

It will help to address range anxiety for drivers who live in areas with fewer public charging stations or colder climates where batteries tend to lose performance.

The system also improves battery range by adding backup power without increasing vehicle weight.

It’s especially useful in mid-size crossovers, vans, and utility vehicles that often can’t accommodate oversized battery packs.

ZF says the platform is modular, so manufacturers can use their own engines and batteries while relying on its hardware and software to manage energy flow.

New ways to tackle range anxiety

Major brands are also exploring ways to improve battery range without depending on new charging networks.

Volkswagen, for example, has updated its upcoming electric vehicle platform to support systems like ZF’s.

Originally designed for battery-electric use only, VW’s platform will now accommodate generator-driven solutions as an optional fallback.

Volkswagen’s Scout brand is planning electric off-roaders that include a similar system, called the Harvester Range Extender.

Like ZF’s tech, it doesn’t power the wheels but adds driving distance using a compact engine.

This allows vehicles to maintain electric drive while reducing the risk of running out of charge in remote areas, helping to reduce range anxiety in less-developed regions.

ZF has previously used this kind of setup in London’s electric taxi fleet.

With demand for electric vehicles still outpacing infrastructure in many markets, systems like this may offer a stopgap that makes EV adoption more realistic in the short term.

Production of the eRE platform begins in 2026.

As electric vehicle development continues, EV tech like ZF’s could help manufacturers ease driver concerns about battery range and reduce range anxiety without relying solely on bigger batteries or faster chargers.

Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie